First Quarter Report Card

A solid D. That’s the grade the Bengals received for the first quarter of the season and not what they demonstrated on the field.
The offense gets a B, the defense a D- and the special teams an F.

The bad:
Cleveland Browns scored 51!!
Justin Smith was completely useless for the first quarter after being franchised in the off-season.
Leon Hall doesn’t pay attention in class.
Safeties can’t tackle.
Marvin treats Levi like an unwanted step child.
Willie looks like he can’t move after games.
Darren Simmons’ special teams are zombies with football helmets.


The good:
Kenny Watson doing all he can.
Our passing game.
Michael Myers

If you break the season into quarters, the Bengals need two quarters of 3-1 records and the other one they have to go 2-2 to end at 9-7. That seems tough. Take a hard look at this team and you can’t help but see another 8-8 season. They exemplify mediocrity. Marvin has had five years to construct a winner and it just isn’t happening. This team is all glamour and no backbone. It’s a yacht built out of ply wood and glue. These coaches don’t seem to prepare like other teams do either. We always hear the players saying that the opponent did “exactly what we thought they would”. Then why do we lose games when we know what’s coming?

This Sunday is the earliest must-win I can remember. It’s early October and we have to beat the Chiefs to have a shot at the season. While David Fulcher and Reggie Williams will not be returning for the Bengals defense this season, a few linebackers will. And even though that’s like bringing a band aid to Iraq, you never know what might save lives, or in this case seasons.

Mojokong - Ichabod Crane does my grades.